Inside plan to use AI in marking and scoring Kenyan exams

The Kenya National Education Assessments Council (KNEAC) Bill 2025 seeks to introduce Artificial Intelligence in the marking process of examinations across the nation.

The Bill will give powers to the Council to formulate guidelines on and tools for marking and scoring formative and summative assessments, including oral, aural, practical, projects, practicum or any other mode of assessment.

"The Council may, from time to time, implement the following methods of marking and scoring. Pen-and-paper marking, E-marking, Electronic capture of marks, Automated marking (Automark), Optical mark recognition (OMR), AI-based marking and any other marking or scoring method deemed appropriate," reads the Bill in part.

After scoring, the Bill indicates that the assessor in liaison with the headteacher, school principal and college principal and as guided will ensure that all registered candidates are accounted for and their assessment scores are uploaded on the provided mode or platform.

The Council shall develop and administer such proportionate mechanisms for assessing and scoring candidates or learners following the stage based pathway.

Likewise, the Council shall appoint at least a chief examiner or assessor -in-charge, an assistant chief examiner, a deputy, a team leader and an examiner.

The Bill further proposes hefty penalties for those found breaching code of conduct in handling examination material.

It proposes a 10-year imprisonment or a fine not exceeding Ksh.2 million for any person who gains access to exam material  before or during an assessment.

It also seeks the same punishment for any person who negligently or willfully assists or causes any assessment candidate to gain unauthorized possession of any assessment paper.

Any person who, without lawful authority, alters the records of the Council with regard to an assessment or assessment results for a candidate is also liable to imprisonment for a term not exceeding five years, or a fine not exceeding Ksh.1 million.

It also seeks to revoke the rules of marking and release of results for the Kenya National Examinations Council (KNEC).